The National CJD Advisory Committee of the Department of Health and Children (DOHC) requested the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) to form a subcommittee to advise on prevention of iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The terms of reference of this subcommittee were to update current Irish infection control guidelines in relation to minimising the risk of transmission of spongiformencephalopathies in the health care setting. The principal focus of the subcomm ittee was to examine potential transmission of TSEs via contaminated medical devices, along with general infection control guidelines for preventing iatrogenic transmission of TSEs in healthcare settings. Draft guidelines, broadly in line with World Health Organisation (WHO)recomm
endations, were released in July 2002. In December 2003 the UK Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) released updated guidelines on preventing the transmission of TSEs. The updated UK guidelines took account of
recent evidence relating to inactivation of prion infectivity and differed significantly from
previous UK guidelines. The Irish guidelines have thus been updated to also take account of recent evidence and are now broadly in line with UK recommendations. The subcommittee wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Prof D Jeffries, former chair of the UK SEAC, in formulating aspects of these guidelines. The following summarises the key recommendations within this document: details of the recommendations can be found in the relevant chap
ters. Additional recommendations, relating to dental procedures, routine patient car
e, laboratory safety, after death and management of possible iatrogenic exposures to TSEs are contained in the appendices. The evidence base relating to human TSEs is continually evolving and these guidelines may need to be
updated in the future, to take account of new evidence.

The National CJD Advisory Committee of the Department of Health and Children (DOHC) requested the Scientific Advisory Committee of the National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC) to form a subcommittee to advise on prevention of iatrogenic transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). The terms of reference of this subcommittee were to update current Irish infection control guidelines in relation to minimising the risk of transmission of spongiformencephalopathies in the health care setting. The principal focus of the subcomm ittee was to examine potential transmission of TSEs via contaminated medical devices, along with general infection control guidelines for preventing iatrogenic transmission of TSEs in healthcare settings. Draft guidelines, broadly in line with World Health Organisation (WHO)recomm
endations, were released in July 2002. In December 2003 the UK Spongiform Encephalopathy Advisory Committee (SEAC) released updated guidelines on preventing the transmission of TSEs. The updated UK guidelines took account of
recent evidence relating to inactivation of prion infectivity and differed significantly from
previous UK guidelines. The Irish guidelines have thus been updated to also take account of recent evidence and are now broadly in line with UK recommendations. The subcommittee wishes to acknowledge the assistance of Prof D Jeffries, former chair of the UK SEAC, in formulating aspects of these guidelines. The following summarises the key recommendations within this document: details of the recommendations can be found in the relevant chap
ters. Additional recommendations, relating to dental procedures, routine patient car
e, laboratory safety, after death and management of possible iatrogenic exposures to TSEs are contained in the appendices. The evidence base relating to human TSEs is continually evolving and these guidelines may need to be
updated in the future, to take account of new evidence.

en_GB

dc.language.iso

en

en

dc.publisher

National Disease Surveillance Centre

en_GB

dc.subject

CREUTZFELDT JAKOB DISEASE

en_GB

dc.subject

NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE AND DISORDER

en_GB

dc.subject.other

TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES

en_GB

dc.title

Guidelines on minimising the risk of transmission of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in healthcare settings in Ireland

en_GB

dc.type

Report

en

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